Rhode Island’s Blue Economy Strategy: Grow Blue
University of Rhode Island Research Foundation
Economic Strategy
The University of Rhode Island (URI) is a public research university in Kingston, Rhode Island. The URI Research Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports research and technology transfer from the university to the industry. The RI Blue Economy Partnership Coalition is a group of public and private sector organizations working to promote and grow the blue economy in Rhode Island.
Fourth Economy was engaged to guide the strategic direction of the newly formed public-private partnership, Grow Blue. This critical partnership aims to unite the expertise and resources of both sectors to identify and address the unique challenges facing the blue economy. By collaborating, the partnership can develop a comprehensive plan for sustainable growth that benefits businesses, workers, and the environment, positioning Rhode Island as a leader in the blue economy.
Our Approach
Fourth Economy worked closely with the RI Blue Economy Partnership Coalition to engage the public and identify key priority areas for the blue economy. We conducted extensive research and analysis, including stakeholder interviews and focus groups, to understand the challenges and opportunities.
The Results
Through these efforts, we identified key priority areas for the partnership: workforce development, business retention, attraction, and expansion, as well as infrastructure and technology. Fourth Economy collaborated with the partnership to develop strategies for creating equitable access to resources and opportunities in the blue economy, including identifying the needs of underrepresented and marginalized groups within the industry and developing programs and initiatives to support their participation and success. Our recommendations laid the groundwork for Grow Blue to become an active industry organization focused on the growth of Rhode Island’s blue economy.
The Action Plan provided the casemaking information to support the successful designation of the Ocean TechHub, a part of the Economic Development Administration’s TechHub program.
View the full report here: Rhode Island’s 2030 Blue Economy Action Plan.
Location
Rhode Island